"The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes" (1994) TV series

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

7 March 1994 (UK)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

Plot:

Holmes, his friend Watson (or his brother Mycroft) work to solve the mysteries of three gables, the dying detective...

Plot Keywords:

Detective | Male Female Relationship | Based On Short Story | Sherlock Holmes | Private Detective

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Jeremy Brett	...	Sherlock Holmes (6 episodes, 1994)
Rosalie Williams	...	Mrs Hudson / ... (6 episodes, 1994)
Edward Hardwicke	...	Doctor Watson / ... (5 episodes, 1994)

Series Directed by
Peter Hammond		(3 episodes, 1994)
Sarah Hellings		(3 episodes, 1994)

Series Writing credits
Arthur Conan Doyle		(6 episodes, 1994)
T.R. Bowen		(2 episodes, 1994)
Gary Hopkins		(2 episodes, 1994)
Jeremy Paul		(2 episodes, 1994)

Series Produced by
Sally Head	....	executive producer (6 episodes, 1994)
June Wyndham-Davies	....	producer (6 episodes, 1994)
Rebecca Eaton	....	executive producer: USA (3 episodes, 1994)

Series Original Music by
Patrick Gowers		(6 episodes, 1994)

Series Cinematography by
Doug Hallows		(5 episodes, 1994)

Series Film Editing by
Paul Griffiths-Davies		(3 episodes, 1994)
Charles Alexander		(2 episodes, 1994)

Series Casting by
Carolyn Bartlett		(6 episodes, 1994)

Series Production Design by
Michael Young		(3 episodes, 1994)
Chris Truelove		(2 episodes, 1994)

Series Art Direction by
Sue Booth		(4 episodes, 1994)

Series Costume Design by
Esther Dean		(6 episodes, 1994)

Series Makeup Department
Sue Milton	....	makeup designer / makeup supervisor (6 episodes, 1994)
Ivana Primorac	....	makeup assistant (4 episodes, 1994)

Series Production Management
Bill Leather	....	production supervisor (6 episodes, 1994)
Roy Jackson	....	production manager (3 episodes, 1994)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jude Harrison	....	second assistant director (6 episodes, 1994)
Terry Reeve	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 1994)
Peter Shaw	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 1994)

Series Art Department
Keith Aldred	....	graphic designer (6 episodes, 1994)
David Round	....	production buyer (4 episodes, 1994)
Tony Mills	....	chargehand asm (3 episodes, 1994)
Eric Crompton	....	chargehand asm (2 episodes, 1994)
Trevor Devoy	....	production buyer (2 episodes, 1994)

Series Sound Department
Ben Brookes	....	boom operator (4 episodes, 1994)
John Whitworth	....	dubbing mixer (4 episodes, 1994)
Stephen Volp	....	dubbing editor (3 episodes, 1994)
Mark Briscoe	....	dubbing editor (2 episodes, 1994)
Ray French	....	sound recordist (2 episodes, 1994)
David Woods	....	sound recordist (2 episodes, 1994)

Series Stunts
Andy Bradford	....	stunt arranger (3 episodes, 1994)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Dave Roberts	....	lighting gaffer (6 episodes, 1994)
Gordon MacGregor	....	camera operator (5 episodes, 1994)
Bob Gregory	....	grip / camera grips (3 episodes, 1994)
Steve Oxley	....	focus puller (3 episodes, 1994)
Bob Walker	....	camera grip / camera grips (2 episodes, 1994)
Steve Wood	....	focus puller (2 episodes, 1994)

Series Casting Department
Pam Bailey	....	casting assistant (5 episodes, 1994)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Louise Pipping	....	wardrobe supervisor (6 episodes, 1994)

Series Other crew
Elizabeth Bradley	....	script editor (6 episodes, 1994)
Gail Watkins	....	production coordinator (6 episodes, 1994)
Joan Lally	....	continuity / production assistant (3 episodes, 1994)
Jo Hallows	....	continuity / production assistant (2 episodes, 1994)

Production Companies

• Granada Television (presents)

Distributors

• Granada Television International (1993) (worldwide) (TV) (rights)
• Independent Television (ITV) (1993) (UK) (TV)
• Viasat3 (2006) (Hungary) (TV)
• A&E Television Networks
• Elephant Films (2006) (France) (DVD)
• MPI Home Video (2004) (worldwide) (DVD)
• MPI Home Video (2004) (worldwide) (VHS)
• Malavasi Editore
• Pan Vision Oy (2006) (Finland) (DVD)

Runtime:

UK:51 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Company:

Granada Television

Trivia:

"The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone" is actually an adaptation of "The Three Garridebs", as the original story is one of Arthur Conan Doyle's poorest.

Movie Connections:

Follows "The Return of Sherlock Holmes" (1986)

Will make you want to track down those splendid antiques used as props and backdrop.

These comments apply to all the Sherlock Holmes series and episodes produced by Granada and starring Jeremy Brett as Holmes and either Burke or Hardwicke as Watson.

Brett certainly gave the most definitive portrayal of Holmes. One must remember that Holmes, although a decent and upright gentleman had his dark side -- his conceit, impatience with people of lesser intelligence and, as a product of imperial Victorian England, he displayed traces of jingoism, racism, sexism and hypocrisy. Note that episode where he remarks on the French surname of a suspect (The Red Headed League) or in the cavalier manner he uses pejoratives to refer to peoples of Asiatic origin. In another episode he tells Watson that his nemesis the Countess of Pernambuco is "but a woman." Expecting high moral standards of others, he was nevertheless a drug addict (cocaine in the original stories by Doyle and also absinthe in the Granada series). He also smoked opium occasionally when in disguise to track down suspects or missing persons. In one episode he was caught red-handed by Watson (the one portrayed by Hardwicke) with a syringe although it is not certain what drug it was supposed to contain, probably morphine as I doubt if heroin had already been extracted from opium at that time. His proclivity to use such drugs make his attachment to pipe tobacco seem trivial.

These flaws viewed in the context of the era and of the peculiar circumstances of Holmes, instead of casting him as an ogre, make him all the more human and believable. On the whole, however, Brett's Holmes is exceedingly kind, self sacrificing and high minded. He could also be quite droll and able to take jokes at his expense as when a phrenologist remarked that he would very much like to take a cast of the cranium of the very intelligent Holmes "until the original should become available" for the latter's collection. Holmes feigned anger and laughingly shooed the scientist away. Note that he rarely collects fees and places life and limb on the line for his clients. No wonder the sophisticatedly discerning French have a Jeremy Brett society.

Between Burke and Hardwicke as Watson, one is likely to vote for Burke as he is funnier, younger and good looking. But Hardwicke better displays the character of a retired officer of the Indian (Imperial British) Army by his physical courage and readiness to use his firearm. His portrayal also highlights the difficult side of Holmes as in the episodes showing Holmes' disregard for his own health and his drug addiction. It was to Hardwicke's Watson that Holmes unusually expresses (in a letter in The Hound of the Baskervilles) deep concern and affection with such words as "there is nothing that I desire more than to have you safely back in our Baker st. lodgings." Finally, if you have seen all the episodes, watch them again and keep your eyes peeled for those delicious antiques -- porcelain washbowls, iron stoves, 19th century lamps, brass door knockers, handsome hansoms and carriages, even a pristine horse drawn red and brass fire engine with immaculate white hoses. And were those mansions, manor houses and country cottages merely sets or genuine locations? I suspect the latter. I would suggest to the English that they revise their Sherlock Holmes tours to include visits to places where Granada shot the series.